The impact of personal budgets and direct payments will be debated by social care experts, carers and service users in a one-day conference this spring.

The University of Lincoln is holding the conference 'Personalisation. Where are we at? Where are we going?' at its School of Health and Social Care on George Street, Hull, on Friday 20th April 2012, in partnership with Care Talk magazine.

Leonne Griggs, Senior Lecturer in the University's School of Health and Social Care, said: "The policy of personalisation has been described as the biggest change in social care for a generation. This conference will provide an opportunity for professionals, students and academics interested in social care to examine the successes and challenges of personalisation.

"The impact of direct payments and personal budgets will be considered, with evidence and discussions from service users, policy makers, academics, managers and practitioners."

Keynote speakers include Professor Jon Glasby, Professor of Health and Social Care and Director of the Health Services Management Centre at the University of Birmingham. He specialises in research, teaching, consultancy and policy advice around personalisation and is co-author of the book Direct Payments and Personal Budgets.

Prof. Glasby will be joined by Simon Duffy, a well-known social innovator and writer who is working to redesign the current welfare system so that it will better support citizenship and strengthen community life. Simon is best known for defining key concepts such as individual budgets, self-directed support and the citizenship model.

There will also be a number of workshops covering a range of subjects, including the experiences of service users and carers and the changes felt by different authorities responsible for delivering social care.

The event will be relevant to students of any of the care professions, service users and carers, as well as personal budget leads, managers in health and social care settings, social workers, nurses, or other professionals working with people who are eligible for a personal budget.

Lisa Carr, Editor of Care Talk said: "Care Talk is delighted and proud to support this exciting and innovative event."

The conference is free to attend for service users and carers. For practitioners and academics, there is a conference fee of £75 (reduced to £65 for early bird bookings before 31st January). Refreshments and a buffet lunch will be provided. For more information or to book a place, visit: http://www.lincoln.ac.uk/home/campuslife/whatson/eventsconferences/